The Tamil Nadu government has warned that it would evoke the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) if the government doctors go on strike joining hands with the striking medicos. The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) has maintained that it will join the strike if it warrants so in a recent meeting convened for deciding the future course of action in this regard.

TNGDA is currently of the view that the Tamil Nadu government has come hard on the striking medicos without heeding to their demand. The Association has also alleged that the state government erred in its action of not seeking Medical Council of India (MCI) to discontinue approval for private and self-financing colleges and also to have MCI recognition for certain courses conducted in the government medical and dental colleges.

The Tamil Nadu government, as a prelude to the possible strike by the Association, has warned the Association of stringent action and evoking of ESMA. The Association had been watching from the sidelines the progress of the strike called by the medicos demanding MCI recognition of 79 courses conducted in the government medical and dental colleges in the state, decrease in fees, hike in stipend and non approval to private self financing medical and dental colleges in the state.

The Association is of the view that it should side with the striking medicos and call for strike to make the government heed to the demands of the striking medicos.